Rodney King Dies At 47

Rodney King was found unconscious at the bottom of his swimming pool Sunday and later pronounced dead, California police said. He was 47.

King’s beating by police in 1991 was caught on videotape and then sparked riots in Los Angeles when police accused of excessive force were acquitted.

Capt. Randy DeAnda told CNN that the Rialto (Calif.) Police Department received a 911 call from King’s fiance early Sunday morning. Police responded and found King unconscious at the bottom of the pool. He was transported to the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

DeAnda said there were no signs of foul play and that police were conducting a drowning investigation.

In an April interview with NPR’s Karen Grigsby Gates about his new book, King seemed contented, sober and engaged. He said he had come to grips with the night he was stopped by police and beaten, kicked and tasered.